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Target bullet weights?
- Thread starter ZVP
- Start date
.38 Special target loads are usually a 148 grain wadcutter. This is either a cylindrical bullet or one that has a flat, full diameter nose and a hollow base that forms an expansion skirt to help it hug the rifling. Because these bullets have no reduced diameter ogive (the nose profile from full diameter to the tip) to protrude from the case and out into the chamber throat, they have to be seated flush with the case mouth to load or feed properly.
For this configuration, 148 grains just worked out to be a good compromise that provides a bullet that is accurate at target velocities and can be fired without sight adjustment at the standard 25 and 50 yard bull's eye target ranges.
For this configuration, 148 grains just worked out to be a good compromise that provides a bullet that is accurate at target velocities and can be fired without sight adjustment at the standard 25 and 50 yard bull's eye target ranges.
Thanks for the explanation. It'shoots just I have notedone the 138 gr bullet weights and wonDerek what's up?
You can really notice the lighter recoil. Federal claims 800 plus fps velocitry but also statesee they are NOT for law enforcementry use!!!
They'remind jacketed bullets.
Interesting...
Thanks again.
ZVP
You can really notice the lighter recoil. Federal claims 800 plus fps velocitry but also statesee they are NOT for law enforcementry use!!!
They'remind jacketed bullets.
Interesting...
Thanks again.
ZVP
If you want to hear my take on it, consider this. The lighter bullet results in a lead savings of 1,000 grains per box, five boxes saves almost a pound of lead, a case of 20 is going to save about 4, and I'm pretty sure that their costs for lead will be maybe fifty cents per pound, since salvage price runs about 60 cents even in small batches. When small batches of lead cost 60 to buy, then need refining and alloying, even bought in many tons at a time, can it really be sold for much less than that? I just don't know.
Even if it is bought for only 30 cents a pound, that's over a dollar in savings, going from a 130+- load from the 158 or even 148.
Will a company that sells millions, literally millions of rounds of ammo every month or so, willingly sell them with more materials than necessary? Seriously, not a chance. The big companies have always, for many decades, tested every new powder that is created, just to see if they can shave off half a grain in the charge without significantly impacting performance.
Want to know why the plated bullet is so popular and is being promoted? A fraction of a cent worth of copper, a tiny bit of energy and work, and essentially another fraction of a cent saved results in a lead bullet selling for a penny more if it's plated. compare that to jacketed? copper probably costs three to four times as much as lead, and seriously, buying sheets of copper and drawing jackets will be extraordinarily more expensive than a simple plated bullet.
Follow the money. These miniscule alterations in operations and materials cost save millions of dollars annually. Constant design alteration that create products that are perceived as being far better than ever allow for premium rounds to go at a much higher price, cutting costs by even a fraction of a cent adds up to a fortune in the long run.
Have you noticed that a bottle of water now comes in a floppy, thin container, and has a lid as big as a beer cap? boy, I'd love to hav even a tiny fraction of the money they save annually just because they reduced the price of their manufacturing.
Even if it is bought for only 30 cents a pound, that's over a dollar in savings, going from a 130+- load from the 158 or even 148.
Will a company that sells millions, literally millions of rounds of ammo every month or so, willingly sell them with more materials than necessary? Seriously, not a chance. The big companies have always, for many decades, tested every new powder that is created, just to see if they can shave off half a grain in the charge without significantly impacting performance.
Want to know why the plated bullet is so popular and is being promoted? A fraction of a cent worth of copper, a tiny bit of energy and work, and essentially another fraction of a cent saved results in a lead bullet selling for a penny more if it's plated. compare that to jacketed? copper probably costs three to four times as much as lead, and seriously, buying sheets of copper and drawing jackets will be extraordinarily more expensive than a simple plated bullet.
Follow the money. These miniscule alterations in operations and materials cost save millions of dollars annually. Constant design alteration that create products that are perceived as being far better than ever allow for premium rounds to go at a much higher price, cutting costs by even a fraction of a cent adds up to a fortune in the long run.
Have you noticed that a bottle of water now comes in a floppy, thin container, and has a lid as big as a beer cap? boy, I'd love to hav even a tiny fraction of the money they save annually just because they reduced the price of their manufacturing.
GunMaverick
New member
Depends
If it's just target for fun, go as light as accurately possible on powder, and bullet weight to save money. However if you are training for an event (target shoot, competition, hunting) use better loads.
If it's just target for fun, go as light as accurately possible on powder, and bullet weight to save money. However if you are training for an event (target shoot, competition, hunting) use better loads.
It's a 148 grain bullet not a 138. And rarely jacketed. A WC, be it swaged(that'd be the 'hollow base' Nick mentions) or cast(the other one), cuts a neat round hole that makes scoring a great deal easier.
Then physics gets involved making the felt recoil very light but the bullet still able to hit a target accurately at 50 yards(one hellacious long way when you're standing on your hind legs and shooting with one hand.).
It's all about reducing the felt recoil. Nothing to do with money. For once.
Then physics gets involved making the felt recoil very light but the bullet still able to hit a target accurately at 50 yards(one hellacious long way when you're standing on your hind legs and shooting with one hand.).
It's all about reducing the felt recoil. Nothing to do with money. For once.